Palestinian agreement a sign of hope, says churches' chief

Palestinian agreement a sign of hope, says churches' chief

By staff writers

10 May 2011

The WCC general secretary hopes that an inter-Palestinian agreement will strengthen the search for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Israel/Palestine.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches the Rev Dr Olav Fkyse Tveit, has said the recent agreement reached between two Palestinian movements, Fatah and Hamas, holds not only the hope and promise for a healing process within the Palestinian community but also creates the atmosphere for a seeking "a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Israel/Palestine".

"The signing of this agreement, for an interim unity government and fixing a date for a general election in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2012, is a significant milestone and promise to forge a Palestinian consensus for lasting and just peace in the region," Dr Tveit said in a statement released today from the WCC offices in Geneva, Switzerland.

The statement comes in advance of the WCC-sponsored International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, which is being held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 17-25 May 2011.

Some 1000 participants from around the world will gather for a week to discuss and explore the role of the church and religion in peacemaking.

The WCC General Secretary said that the Palestinian agreement comes at a significant moment in the Middle East region as it is a "time when historical trends of regional political changes are propelling new political paradigms."

Dr Tveit also called on the international community not to allow this opportunity to be squandered.

"To realise the goal of just peace in the region, the international community now has the challenge and responsibility to accompany this process,'' he said.

''The international community must also assume a proactive and positive role in guaranteeing the agreement be kept alive, actively discouraging any external conditions that may cause a breakdown,'' the world churches' chief concluded.